River Ryan man accused of robbing bank in Singapore back in court in London

A hearing for a River Ryan man accused of robbing a bank in Singapore got underway at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London Thursday.

Officials at the courthouse said David James Roach, 28, was remanded back into custody and the case was adjourned to Thirsday, Feb. 22, at which time he will appear by video link from prison.

On July 7, 2016, Roach is alleged to have robbed the Standard Chartered Bank’s Holland Village Park branch in Singapore of about $30,000 (Canadian) and fleeing to Thailand with the money.

In June 2017, he was sentenced to 14 months in a Thailand jail for crimes linked to the robbery including violating money laundering and customs laws by bringing the money from the robbery into Thailand.

Thailand rejected Singapore’s request to extradite Roach last year. There is no extradition treaty between the two countries.

Roach was deported from Thailand on Jan. 11 after serving his sentence but was then arrested at Heathrow Airport in London by officers from the Metropolitan Police Extradition Unit following a request from authorities in Singapore.

According to officials of the U.K. Home Office, Roach was being deported from Bangkok to Canada and the flight was on a layover in London when he was arrested.

Singapore has an extradition treaty with the U.K. dating back to the mid 1930s.

Roach first appeared at the Westminster Magistrate’s Court in London Jan. 18 but the matter was adjourned until Feb. 15 due to a wait for papers to arrive from the U.K. Home Office.

Global Affairs Canada has confirmed it is providing consular services to Roach.